Ilia Topuria crushes Brazilian Oliveira and is crowned double UFC champion

Ilia Topuria, the first Spanish UFC world champion, secured his second title on Saturday night with a stunning first-round knockout of Brazil's Charles Oliveira in Las Vegas.

The undefeated Topuria, who also holds Georgian citizenship, needed just two minutes and 27 seconds to floor the veteran Oliveira with a powerful flurry of punches, finishing with a devastating left hand.

"El Matador," 28, claimed the vacant UFC lightweight title (up to 155 lbs), becoming the new champion in the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.

In February 2024, Topuria also dominated Australian Alexander Volkanovski—this time finishing the fight in the second round—to claim his first title, the UFC featherweight belt (up to 145 lbs).

"I already said it — I represent the new generation. This is the next level in the game," Topuria declared after the fight, which headlined UFC 317 at the T-Mobile Arena.

Undefeated fighter revives Spain

Topuria remains undefeated in his 17 professional bouts, with three consecutive wins over MMA legends Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski.

The fight once again sparked major excitement in Spain — the country that welcomed Topuria and his family in 2012 and is now experiencing a mixed martial arts boom thanks to his success.

The sport and Spanish fans alike have embraced this globetrotting fighter, born in the German town of Halle in 1997, as one of their own.